Police cast doubt on 'gang rape' claims in Assam

Indian activists hold posters and banners as they walk during a protest march against violence on women in Calcutta, India on November 25, 2013. EPA/PIYAL ADHIKARY

Authorities are casting doubt on the evidence of an alleged gang rape, which has sparked outrage and days of protests in the Indian state of Assam.

A 31-year-old woman in Lakhimpur district was thrown out of an autorickshaw on Friday, and died later in the hospital. Reports suggested the woman had been raped by three men, beaten with an iron rod, and possibly had her eyes gouged out, before being thrown out of the vehicle.

The incident has been compared to the brutal December 2012 gang rape in New Delhi, which led to widespread protests and a nationalconversationabout violence against women. Since that attack last year there have been several incidents of violence against girls and women.

Responding to the protests, the government appointed a special team to investigate the case. However, after days of outrage, doctors and police are reportedly saying that the post-mortem examination has revealed that the woman was not raped, but died from head injuries, which also caused swelling around the eyes. The investigation into whether it was a murder or an accident is ongoing, and the police have reportedly arrested a suspect.

@madversity It is a gruesome murder but may not be rape. SP North Lakhimpur said postmortem report rules out sexual assault/rape.Nilim Dutta

In response to the initial report, many tweeted in outrage:

#Lakhimpur #Assam!Nothing has changed post December 16, 2012! We fail to set strong examples and get served with horrifying ones! @ndtvShruti Lokre